Photo Credit: The University of the South
Creative Commons

June marked the fulfillment of our son, Josiah, of his undergraduate work at Seattle Pacific University. And on June 13th, in the bright sunshine and lush green grass and trees, we gathered with all of the other proud and weepy parents to watch their children walk to receive their degrees. The ceremony is often more meaningful to the parents than to the children, because it took us back to that first moment of joy when he received his acceptance letter, to the tears of joy when he received an amazingly generous scholarship which made it possible for him to accept that acceptance. 5 years of moving and Skyping while parents moved here and there, father often in many locations, son in one spot, pushing on, working hard. Processing a new country, a new city, a new culture. Working part time jobs, painting houses, babysitting, yard work, and teaching toddlers to swim. And all the while studying, studying, studying. Amazingly as his course numbers rose to the 3 and 4 hundred level, his grades rose with them. So many A’s we stopped counting. Josiah my beloved son, we could not be more proud of you. Your diligence, your courage, your compassion. We are so blessed in our son. We thank God for you, every.single.day. You are our treasure in this life.

~ Debbie Ecker